Set ablaze with golden rays, the room basked in the grace of a new morning. Sunbeams flickered and illuminated the gently wafting haze before the Sunscape window. Within its frame, a tall torii stood defiant and alone amid the vast ocean as the sun rose between its fiery red struts. Seagulls flew past unheard, and a whale breached in the distance to chime in the early hours.
Within the slightly misty room, amid the comfortable walls of traditional ivory shoji, countless soft seat pillows were scattered amongst the tatami mats. Bowls of temptingly luscious fruit and exotic bottles of the finest wines joined them or sat among the many shelves spread throughout. While there were photo frames, souvenirs, books, and other simple decorations, they were accompanied in equal number by the unsettling; Their owner had no ordinary eye.
Each 'trophy' was unique in its own way. One was a particularly beautiful katana, but its wrappings and sheath were stained by dried blood and the scars of battle. A scroll sat on a beautiful little stand next to a photo frame, but it glowed with an unearthly purple mist that interred the same imminent dread as a cobra's hiss. Spread out amongst the common items like a pristine hanging kimono or an iPad charging on a base, most would question the sanity of the one who lurked within.
'Most' would best describe anyone outside of Chaldea, who knew not the eccentric sights and sounds of select residents.
After all, not every servant who answered humanity's clarion call was human.
From a low hum, the relaxing plucks of a shamisen greeted the once slumbering servant's consciousness. Comfortably bundled within a flowery sakura futon, they remained out of sight save for two creamy white horns. As the servant turned gently, the sharp appendages nearly scraped against the fluffy white pillow. Nearly. It was a miracle the covers remained unravaged with every night.
Slowly, the covers fell away as its occupant sat up. As she stifled a brief yawn with slender fingers, her ivory skin glowed with the golden hues of the welcoming rays. Unclothed and uncaring, her lustrous purple orbs, framed between matching short locks, gazed to the window. False scenery or not, the pale woman could feel the gentle pricks of the sun as it danced across her body. The warmth even radiated beneath the covers to lovingly blanket her legs.
It was another perfect morning greeting in Chaldea, but very far from the ideal for an Oni like Shuten Douji.
Her little smile proved it was far from terrible. The warmth was welcome. The sight was beautiful. Her room, filled with the intoxicating mix of incense, alcohol, and temptation was further welcoming. But it wasn't perfect. It was far, far too quiet.
Were it not for the gentle plucks of the soothing music wafting from her vinyl record player, the morning serenity would be excruciating. For an Oni, a mythical demon whose emotions naturally swayed to extremes, their desires fell just as excessive. Everything was exaggerated, including the disappointments and shortcomings. The room's stillness was awful despite the traditional music's attempts to fight its raging roar.
It was far from how she wished to be greeted in the morning, but she'd stirred earlier for one reason or another. It wouldn't make her frown, but, like many, she wanted the day's first breath to bloom through her own blend of coffee. She hummed quietly, then let her eyes race for her antique clock. 'What hour have mine-'
"MORNING, SHUTEN!" Her thoughts lay dead amid the sudden yell. Even before her door flew open, the yell echoed forth.
Not a moment later, as a robot passed with swiveling eyes, her fellow Oni skidded into the room eagerly. Clad in the amusing banana kimono that was bought during their trip to Japan, she glowed almost like a holy angel in the misty sunbeams; Ibaraki was far from angelic.
…At least to many others she wasn't. Shuten couldn't help but giggle as a grinning Ibaraki curled her fists before her and hopped from foot to foot. "It's today! It's today! The big day promised to me! The Onis will claim a victory that won't be forgotten by the humans!"
There was a palpable rapping on the wall beside Shuten's futon. "Hey, Shuten! Tell Ibaraki to keep it down over there! Some of us are trying to sleep!"
"It's almost breakfast, you stupid cat human! Shouldn't you have been up already!?" Ibaraki quickly retorted, and to her smirking satisfaction, only a roaring grumble came through the wall. "I thought Edison slept in his office these days… Oh well. Who cares. Dumb inventor… Where was I- OH! Today's the day! C'mon, Shuten! Get dressed and let's go eat breakfast! And then it's time to prove the uncompromising domination of the Onis!"
A roar echoed from the wall. "Keep it down already!"
While Ibaraki stomped past her bed to counter, Shuten's sensual giggle filled the air. 'That's more like it.'
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Fragment 103: Of Desires in Excess
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Mountains of glistening gold. The overwhelming smell of incense and the endless troves of alcohol. An entire country's worth of food laced around the room like weaved cloth. They were but the first sights many would see deeper within the confines of this mountain, but its bounty was claimed and guarded.
Not that the Onis of Mount Ooe ever needed to stand true guard, for that matter.
Their heightened senses were dulled with ephemeral bliss; It never waned. They ensured it lasted forever with every raid and harvest. These demons, both horrifically unsightly and impossibly beautiful, guaranteed the coffers overflowed and were served eternally by their host of harvested human souls. If the lucky slaves slacked in their task long enough for an Oni to shake its blissful haze and return to true reality, the offending server would never make that mistake again.
"No! No please! Spare-!" One unfortunate soul became the newest reminder for the lot of weakened men and women. With a sickening crunch, one of the larger ranked demons stuffed the server into his gaping maw.
The whimpers of horror from the other humans fell silent below the bellowing laughter of their leader, Ibaraki, who only roared with satisfaction. "He grew too weak anyway! We'll fetch some new ones in the morning!"
Morning, Ibaraki said. Did that mean it was night? Was it day? Within the darkened lair, lit only by the incense candles and unearthly mana flow, it was impossible to tell. With the endless food of highest quality and unending stream of alcohol, time had all but blurred together to join the beautifully smelling haze. Days turned to months then years, but none of the Onis ever cared; For the humans, it was eternal torture.
For Shuten, it was a longer stretch of time between a true break. Perched atop a mountain of the comfiest silk pillows, the favored demon was served on hand and foot by many captives. Some fanned her, careful not to rattle their chains to disrupt her drunken haze. Two gently massaged her luscious legs with fine oils to keep her aloft. Another held a golden tray of food while a beautiful former courtesan, garbed in only flowing locks and shackles, fed her grapes by hand.
Clad only in an undone white kimono of the finest silks, Shuten appeared as a ivory-skinned human goddess with blessed curves and a figure that'd rival the greatest courtesans. But she was an inhuman demon. One who bathed in the overflowing luxury offered within the cavernous lair.
While lesser Onis scurried about the outskirts to connecting caves, the stronger leaders indulged themselves. Ibaraki ensured Shuten was the most cared for, and though the pampered demon appreciated her sibling, her only offered show of gratitude were her sensual moans of indulgence. Time only slipped past, and she seldom recalled the last time she had a satisfying interruption that wasn't Mount Ooe's leader.
With a smile that would inflame the lust of the most devout, the Oni smiled to herself. 'What fortune would grace mine eyes next…?'
Another sip of grand wine. The taste of succulent fruits. The enjoyable festivals of screams and torture… of humans dancing for their entertainment as they begged for release or salvation. The festivities of the mountain were the greatest Oni pleasures, and Ibaraki ensured the utmost for her. But it could always use something different to keep things fresh.
Quietly, Shuten raised a slender finger to touch one of the male slaves beside her. He froze in fear as her eyes gazed sensually into his, only for her smile to reveal the devilish fangs of the monstrous temptress. "Grace mine ears with thy tongue… Thou art a warrior. Did thou think oneself a hero worthy of our prowess? Or was thy blade inspired to thirst for our heads by one who is? A champion with wishes the wind to praise him eternal?"
She could see the fear in his eyes. The hesitation of choosing wrong; It was delicious. She could almost eat him now to indulge in his screams, but for now, she wanted something else: The warrior's answer. "I-I was inspired by another. One of the Fujiwara or Minamot-"
A sharpened bone flew into his muscular arm. His scream was blood curdling and delectable. Shuten smiled as splatters of his blood fell onto some of the food. He did nothing wrong, of course… except mention an annoying name. Shuten turned to Ibaraki, who glowed an angry red. Her low voice rumbled the cave, "Do not say that upstart clan's name in our presence."
The man could only scream, but with a wave of Ibaraki's hands, a larger demon simply grabbed him and tossed him towards a cave outlet; The lessers would get a grateful snack. With a small noise of disappointment, Shuten glanced to the abandoned fan, then to the culprit. The golden-haired Oni still smiled devilishly, "That human was clearly improper. I'll get you a better one in our next outing."
"On that, mine doubts do not linger," Shuten smiled back, and they shared a demonic giggle between them. Her foster sibling was always so caring to her, but she wasn't too perceptive. The disappointment was not at the loss of an easily replaceable servant, but the answer. A certain Minamoto has earned a lot of growing rumors and fanfare lately. It would make their skull a great trophy for their mountain, but Shuten was far more interested in any news of one brave companion…
…Of a golden-haired boy she'd met some time ago, who'd managed to hold his confidence and wit in her presence. 'Mine mind doth wonder… Are you still as worthy, boy…?'
Maybe they would meet again. Maybe not. It would sure be a rare and potentially pleasurable encounter, so a surprise would be welcome. Until then, the days would blur amid screams, incense, and alcohol. The fruit would grace her tongue, and her palette would remain satisfied by the overwhelming bliss that drenched Mount Ooe. Should boredom arise, she could always join Ibaraki for a walk to the nearest town.
And if nothing else, she wished this endless dream of gifted violence and debauchery would never falter.
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December had arrived in Chaldea. With all the growing hype surrounding this holiday season, Shuten couldn't help but wonder just how festive it would be. For a few religious holidays to rouse so much excitement among the humans was curious; She wound up waiting eagerly for this month too.
She was far from disappointed thus far. It was barely a day into the month, and the festive cheer exploded like a match to gasoline throughout the halls and rooms. Many staff wondered when the seasonal decorations would appear, but overnight, an unknown team of volunteers had ushered in the holiday season in but a blink.
Fantasia was far from spared too. Eternally inviting and tropical, it too was drenched with a deluge of evergreen wreaths and currently slumbering lights. Specialized snowmen waited around the boardwalk, begging to be decorated or garbed by Chaldea's children. Christmas trees, menorahs, some kinara candles, and more had invaded Club Cove in force; The Outdoor Cafeteria didn't fare much better.
Though the breakfast buffet offered much of the same, some seasonal biscuit trays attracted the most attention. The gathering breakfast crowds were far livelier today. Cheer guarded the air from any stalking anxieties or tensions while enthusiasm jumped endlessly from face to face. Compared to previous months, December was off to a very promising and lively start.
…Honestly, it was still too quiet, but Shuten's special brews made it enjoyable.
"Shuten! These are extra sweet! You should eat some too!" Ibaraki's company always made it more so. Now wrapped in a simple purple kimono, Shuten sat with her foster sibling at the edge of the cabana. Between them, the table was a banquet as usual. Shuten's fruits and glistening jugs of alcohol lay scattered to the rim to make room for the entire tray of biscuits Ibaraki had shamelessly taken.
Just as brazenly, Ibaraki shoved another shaped sugary treat into her mouth and cheered while chewing. "The stars are the best! Better than most candy!"
"Mm. So thy tongue falls prey?" Shuten smiled as she sipped on her favorite wine. The warmth of watching her friend was heated further by the fiery magma which slid down her throat. As the wine almost burned her stomach, and the room swirled gently with bliss, Shuten glanced over the many shapes. "Which delight shall be graced first…?"
Between the stars, snowflakes, sleighs, and others, she reached for a stacked biscuit. Built like a wedding cake, the sandwiched green frosting layers and cookies formed a perfect little Christmas tree, complete with a sugary star at the top. She smiled and plucked it with delicate fingers, then gently lifted it to her tongue. Slowly and seductively, the Oni took a gentle lick before scraping a nibble with sharpened fangs. Her chewing was slow and precise, promising every second was savored with the aftertaste of the mighty brew.
By contrast, Ibaraki picked up another tree biscuit and crammed it into her mouth like a child late for the school bus. Shuten gracefully stifled a giggle with her finger as Ibaraki breathed a sigh of satisfaction with crumb covered lips. "I change my mind. The tree ones are better. Tastes like Tamamo's cooking."
"Though which of the divine tails, I doth wonder…" Shuten mused quietly before watching her fellow Oni devour a Santa head as if it were a pastime treat. How many times had Shuten seen Ibaraki enjoying feast and festival? Far uncountable, but she'd never seen her foster sibling with such a childishly delighted face so often as she had in Chaldea. It was amusing; The modern sweets and candies had such a mighty impact on the powerful demon.
It was rare for anything to sway an Oni so powerfully. The humans were mostly right: Onis couldn't properly be compared to them… at least from their framed and limited view of the world. Like that weaker race, even the simplest interests, trinkets, and gifts could sway Oni moods. The only difference was how wildly those 'dangerous' mood swings were: What was extreme temperament to humans was simply a casual reaction of demons.
Why not? Just like Ibaraki indulged carelessly in the food before her, so too did Shuten thirst for the greatest pleasures and ecstasies. That's why she often toed the line as far as she could with Chaldea's rules. It's why she found such tasteful, dazed ecstasy indulging in the very poisonous wine that spelled her demise millennia ago; Now the fiery liquid was her favorite brew.
To be an Oni was to desire and seek everything to its climax. It was to pursue everything like a wildfire and leave no stone unscathed should it find itself blocking their path. If to be human was to search or struggle to cement one's existence and prove their worth, then an Oni's path was to bathe in the overwhelming to sate their lust.
Onis seemed impossible to understand, but there were a select few who did. "Ahoy! Starting off the season the right way, I see!"
"You better not think of raiding my sweets!" Ibaraki swiftly shot back as she corralled a few helpless Santas and reindeers into her arms; She still smirked to the pirates as they walked over. "Morning, pirate girls! I heard you're going raiding today?"
"What finer way for us to ring in the jolly season?" Anne cheered as the trio claimed the table beside them. Shuten smiled to the three battle-clad ladies, but then quickly offered a few of the many jugs with a suggestive twirl of lithe fingers.
Drake's response was to laugh, reach over, and take a few of the fine glasses hostage. "Thanks, Shuten! You didn't sneak the special one into one of these, did ya?"
"Thy stomach is not ready for its fatal kiss," Shuten coyly reassured, only to get a quick thumbs up from Mary. Ibaraki giggled and shoved more cookies into her mouth. "My mind doth wonder… The delicacy of this merry season. Eggnog? Does it lie waiting to be sampled?"
"Tonight!" Drake grinned back as she poured some fine sake into her personal wooden stein. "I'll be quick to find you two and Jaykay to taste my admiral mix! We're going to party all night, girls!"
"Mine patience wavers," Shuten giggled gently as she sipped on her fiery sake dish.
As Mary stared over to their table, Ibaraki caught her looking. With a smirk, the yellow-haired Oni grasped a different jug on the far side and tossed it over. "This one's better! Take it in sips!"
"Sips, huh? That means we're downing it, Mary!" Anne cheered, and roused a quick laugh from the others. Drake raised her stein, and the other four were quick to join the toast with sake dishes, cups, or mugs. It made Shuten's fiery brew taste just a bit better as their growing mirth drowned out the breakfast chatter.
Chaldea was always too calm for Shuten's liking, but select company made for basic medicine. The pirate girls were a rare three who'd earned both Onis' full acceptance… Mostly because they held their drink well and bathed as equally in chasing ephemeral extremes. Among other favorites, they churned the atmosphere into a delightful swirl of a long-lost life, and sometimes even surpassed parties on Mount Ooe.
For that, Drake, Anne, and Mary earned Shuten's respect. Even Ibaraki's. "Hey, hey! If there's any rare sweets, will you…?"
"We'll get you the good stuff if we find any," Anne winked, and Ibaraki cheered in gratitude. "You two got permanent priority on our hauls for select goods!"
"I don't know if there's anything you might like from Spain, but I'll see what antiques I can fish up for ya. Right after I remind those Spaniards who's the real boss in those waters!" Drake pointed at Shuten, and she nodded gracefully in turn.
"The finest tastes for banquet shall make the night eternally young," she replied as Ibaraki finished the last of her treats. "Thou understands mine tastes."
"All too well!" Drake winked, then quenched her own thirst with a rabid chug. Shuten smiled and sipped on her sake. Few could quench the endless addiction for her higher pleasures. Drake often met it in spades, during a party or not. It even made Shuten secretly decide on giving the three pirates worthwhile Christmas presents this year, but it was proving just as difficult as giving an Oni a gift.
After all, the friends' best gifts had often been traded with every passing week.
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By nature, Onis were powerful. Combined with their extreme emotions and desires, that often meant the prideful beings were always more than willing to prove that strength to mount the heights of ecstasy. Though Shuten preferred other forms of mind-shattering bliss, the thrill of life-or-death battle was a pursuit many Onis consumed like a cheap drug. Her prideful foster-sibling was no exception.
"Today's the day… Please watch me, Shuten," Ibaraki's firm voice echoed over the surprising stillness of Mount Meru. "I will not dishonor the Onis!"
With gentle light rays peering through the cloud blanket, it was as if this day was promised to be different by the divines themselves. Not a single snowflake fell, and only a gently breeze churned the fluffy blanket to form little wisps across the Training Grounds. At its center, two battle-clad figures stood two dozen paces away. Whether it was the drink's fiery haze or the battlefield itself, the air fell even quieter as the anticipation roared throughout.
Finally, Ibaraki's muscles tensed. Shuten could see the hope and determination flare in her eyes. Gone was the happy Oni at breakfast, replaced barely an hour later by the infamous, fierce monster of Japanese legend. Prana exploded out from around her in scorching ocher, swirling like a tornado to sunder the baby wisps on pilgrimage. Her eyes flared, and like times of old, Shuten felt herself smile.
Yes. This was the true Ibaraki Douji: The leader of the Mount Ooe Onis who shook the earth itself. Her voice was a solar flare, "Tremble with grim acknowledgement! For this is the day you face the true might of an Oni!"
"…Um… Sure?" Her opponent's simple response made Shuten and the lone spectator beside her giggle.
Ibaraki ignored it. She became a comet. The snow cascaded around her like a tidal wave as she careened forward with sword drawn. Mount Meru's ground trembled with her advance, almost as if it feared the full might she drew upon. The air itself was thick with the overwhelming aura of malicious prowess. Countless times, the unyielding typhoon or prana from a charging Ibaraki was more than enough to flatten entire villages in a blink.
The anticipation of worthy violence often destroyed an Oni's self-control. To dance on the verge of life and death was a wine of a different sort. Often times, the dissatisfaction of a promising fight turning sour would infuriate an Oni to cruel acts against the opposing warrior. Yet, despite the leagues of mockeries, the chance to fight a truly hardened warrior that may kill them was the finest treasure of battle; To defeat them was even better.
…But this opponent was more than just a rightful challenge. In fact, Shuten only expected what came next as an ear-shattering explosion signified their collision. Ibaraki's stupefied scream quickly followed. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Shuten's eyes could barely follow Ibaraki's tumbling form as it rocketed into the distance. The churning explosion of golden prana went off in a beautiful mushroom cloud, yet the Oni had been the one sent packing. In the distant mountains, the muted thud of an impact came several seconds later; Shuten could see the avalanche of snow cascading off its flank. Not an ounce of worry seeped into the tipsy Oni's heart… just mirth.
Giggling with shameful amusement at her friend's defeat, she gazed towards the perpetrator, whose relaxed silhouette appeared defiant among the fading cloud. "My, my… Once more the same? For my dear sibling, my mind doth hope thy weren't holding back."
"I used the flat side." When the golden prana-screen faded in favor of Mount Meru's calm air, Rama turned to her sheepishly with an apologetic smile. "I'm not aiming to kill her… It's just a spar."
'Poor Ibaraki…' Shuten giggled again as Sita did the same beside her. The two sat on chairs made of snow newly forged for the holidays; Behind them, armies of snowmen littered the saddle leading to Chaldea. No one else had come to spectate, but as often requested, Shuten always came to cheer on her sibling… no matter how vain her prideful struggle to reach that glorious peak of thrilling victory. Not even her subtle suggestions to stop could convince her foster sibling.
After taking a sip of her sake dish while waiting, she offered it to Sita. The archer beside her looked childlike and adorable in a puffy red winter jacket and jeans. The clutched blue monkey doll in her arms only added to the look. Gently, the divine shook her head and smiled. "No thank you."
Shuten took another slow sip of her drink and relished the warmth of the lighter wine. As she contemplated sipping her favorite brew, Ibaraki's bounding thuds and diminished aura finally heralded her return. Not a moment later, she darted up from the plateau's overlook to land perfectly in the center of the battlefield. Disheveled and irritated, she half-glared, half-pouted at Rama, who only stood casually and scratched the back of his head.
That only set Ibaraki's irritation off further. "Why!? Why, why, WHY!? I finally go all out and you just… bat me away like a baseball!?"
"If I didn't, you would've run me over." It was said so nonchalantly that the two spectators couldn't help but giggle again.
Ibaraki only flared further. Her ferociousness when angry could terrify most humans, but Shuten found it definitely looked more like a pout to fellow Onis. "Today was special! It was my promised victory! I thought I was finally going to have you on the ropes! Begging for mercy!"
"I guess she didn't learn from the ninety-nine other attempts…" Sita mused and shared a small smile with Shuten.
"Failure doth not shake the will of an Oni. Only embolden our heart's desires with bleeding scars that itch ceaseless," Shuten commented as Ibaraki continued to whine at the saber. The assassin smiled with only the scarcest hint of exasperation. "…To convince dear Ibaraki is hopeless. Pride craves fulfillment."
But this was a fulfilling ecstasy that would likely never be quenched until it was realized. Ibaraki's desire for grand victory was as potent as Shuten's lust for the greatest tastes and treasures. The berserker would thirst and thirst even if she wished not, so the only option was to pursue that passion with all the strength her current class container could muster. Yet, even with a few empowering memorial essences, the gap remained excruciatingly wide. She may as well hope to hop over the Atlantic Ocean in one bound.
That much was blatantly obvious: Her opponent was Rama, legendary Indian hero, renowned for slaughtering demons in the hundreds of thousands.
Ignoring her insistent whining, Rama sighed and glanced back towards the saddle. "Ibaraki, may we please call it here? We just got back this morning and I'd like to arrange the souvenirs we bought."
"One more! Just one more fight right now!" she demanded with puffed cheeks and clenched fists. "I'll beat you this time! I'll prove to be the toughest demon you've ever fought!"
"Ravana would have something to say about that…" Sita sighed a little dryly. Shuten sipped on her sake, but mused on that thought often brought up. Ravana's legend made him appear as a powerful, noble demon, but would he come to Chaldea? Then again, she and Ibaraki did… and she had to wonder just how her foster sibling would react to the crowned Indian King of Demons.
"What of you, Sita? Mine guess would've rested with thou as Rama's most difficult… for those with human compassion never wish to harm thy love."
"…I try not to think about that time," Sita smiled back, and though Shuten wanted to toy and pry further, it was best not to tempt the annoyance of these two divines. Especially not when she was on unusually neutral or fair terms with Sita… if only because they both came to watch these little bouts so often.
Though the couple's incident was a thought Shuten still couldn't help pondering over. Whether human, divine, or demon, emotions still carried such heavy weight and sway. Where rage consumed everything Sita was in that time, it was its polar opposite, Rama's love, to break her from the apocalyptic trance in their legend. To meet one extreme with another was something often told in tales, but not something most humans understood.
For Onis, that was simply life, but seeing it within humans or divines never ceased to lead the assassin to curious examination.
She was not Holmes, but Shuten could see the extremes where they resided. Rama and Sita were a divine couple who embraced love to its absolute extreme; Sometimes brazen enough that Okita got extra paperwork. It was a glimpse into overindulgence the Oni couldn't help but outright respect, if in secret. She would even describe it as… beautiful. Intoxicatingly so.
Yet, the envy for such an extreme feeling had been long-since extinguished, for she too nurtured a similar, vibrant glow within her own chest.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ V ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Most days, Shuten would be more than content to lounge in her room. Though it was often vilified by Raikou as a hellish opium den, Shuten hardly minded her filed complaints. She wasn't too far off, honestly. It was still tame compared to most Oni dwellings, but it was enough for relaxation and casual drinking.
Today it'd be mostly vacant. Like the whims of humans, Onis sometimes felt the need to shake the routine. Sometimes there were interesting spices to be tasted outside of an hours-long drunken stupor. The hard part was simply finding any that could tickle an Oni's curiosity and meet the high demands.
Walking along the long stretch between the salon and Fantasia entrance, Shuten kept tipsy eyes on a hopeful swivel. Chaldea was usually frustratingly relaxed, but there was still the spontaneous event that compared to a jester's act. Even if for only a few minutes, a prank from the delinquents or even a sparking hidden conflict helped fill her bar of satisfaction. Chaldea's stillness was often too much, even if Shuten did come to enjoy its little charm.
A robot passed by carting a menagerie of crystal glass, and their chiming rings tried to tickle her ears. Where they failed, a gleeful giggle succeeded instead. At an open double door just ahead, a battle clad Holmes walked out; Clearly it wasn't his. With sharp eyes, he seemed to pierce into her mind with but a simple glance, yet only a small nod of acknowledgement followed. He resumed his stroll towards the resort area with pipe in hand, only for the cheerful cries in the nearby room to continue.
The doors slid shut, but opened moments later for the approaching Shuten. With nothing to do but chase whims curiously, she walked into the Recording Studio lobby. Strolling past the new plush couches and tables, she glimpsed into the nearest booth to see no one. Happy humming snapped her neck to a door at the opposite side, which lay open as a seductive invitation. The assassin wandered through moments later.
The humming continued. "My studio is ready and Mister Homsies is making quick headway~! This is the best day so far~!"
Shuten paused in the doorway to glimpse around the new room. She'd never stepped foot into the Recording Studio before, but she understood where she was instantly. Of all the newest arrivals, BB had been the loudest, which said much considering Suzuka was among their number. The Moon Cancer seemed to say and act however she pleased, and this room became another monument to that. If nothing else, the giant neon background sign that read 'BB Channel' was flawless proof.
Countless hanging lights plastered the rafters while several new cameras on dollies sat ready. There was no room for an audience, but a nearby soundboard and recording suite proved the room's owner would cater to one. Like a talk show setup Shuten had seen on television, a beautifully polished mahogany desk, matching plush chairs, and a coffee table waited on the carpeted stage. The background itself portrayed a strange sort of underwater landscape with a deep azure tinge.
The room held Shuten's attention for all of a few seconds before she passed it off; It wasn't to her tastes. It was certainly to the owner's vision as BB hugged the center camera with a happy smile. "I'll need to get you a camera operator~! I forgot to ask Da Vinci for some robots… Hmm… Nah. No need to waste time asking. There's a bunch in storage I'll bet I can borrow no problem~…"
Shuten giggled and earned BB's attention. The unusually classed servant glanced to her, stepped away from the camera, then tilted her head with a mischievous smile. "Oh? A guest? It's rude to walk in uninvited, you know~?"
"Excuse my intrusion, but mine ears couldn't help but grace curious delight," she replied as she looked around the televising room. She then glanced to the Moon Cancer, who approached in a tight set of jeans and a loose lemon blouse. "It appears ready. Thy show will dance among our screens?"
"In a week. I want the pilot to be a bang," BB replied happily as she swayed on her legs with a little extra pep. "No one's as eager as BB~! You're all in for a treat~!"
"I feel it won't disappoint then." Once more, she glanced to the guest chairs, then back at BB. "I wouldn't have guessed thy interest to indulge in the banter of human tongue. Did thou not express thy disgust for humanity?"
"I did. Humans are disgusting, but you can't help but love them. You can be frustrated by something and still want to protect it. Am I wrong?" BB winked, and Shuten smiled in growing amusement. "That's why it'd be a shame if they disappeared. How can I enjoy and play around with them if they're gone? That's boring."
"Boredom is sour grapes in the finest wines," the assassin commented, and BB quickly nodded in agreement. "Then there are already esteemed guests in mind?"
"A few possibilities… I want them to have fun reactions. TV is about seeing fun stuff, so the overly composed stoics will be checked at the door," BB stated matter of fact, then stared at Shuten for a little while longer. "Hmm… Maybe I should consider you. Your eloquence is ear snagging, and your looks more so. I don't know you very much, so that's already a bunch of interview potential… Plus you're an Oni. A devilsh kouhai AI like me can probably relate to you better than the humans."
"Words would reveal," Shuten offered possibly. She and BB never did talk beyond a quick introduction, but by the way she acted, the assassin pegged her as one of the most entertaining servants to arrive. Her ambiguous morals, interest in pursuing pleasures, related Alter Egos, and often blunt words had made for quite a few potential sparks. Much about her seemed exaggerated, which was something that bothered the humans, but not her.
As to how well they could get along? Time would tell. BB seemed just as curious though, "Hm, hm, hmmm… Okay. I'll put you on the possible guest list for the first season, Shuten! Gotta have variety in a show! I'll give you a heads up before I pick you up for an interview."
She tilted her head playfully in response with a finger to her lips. "Will there be live games of entertainment?"
BB's smile turned devilish. "You mean for you or the more human guests?"
Their mutual, mischievously elegant smiles would have unsettled any who bared witness.
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If Ibaraki hadn't come to get her, Shuten may have stayed with BB throughout lunch too. The rogue AI was a lot deeper than most realized, and they related on a surprising number of things; That included their 'questionable' morals, at least compared to humans. It was promising to have another to talk casually about some things without any 'social repercussions', but the true test would be if BB could handle Shuten's refined drinks.
That would be determined tonight.
In the meantime, Lunch passed uneventfully. There was still no eggnog, but Shuten's alcohol helped Ibaraki get over her earlier losses to Rama. It was quieter since the pirate girls were off on a longer supply sortie, but there was plenty of new seasonal treats to keep the pair occupied… At least until Ibaraki wandered off early to go bother Robin.
So, Shuten wandered off early as well to unveil the curious lack of the gaming group at the cabana tables. With an absolute lack of surprise, she located them in the arcade. To make up for her initial lack of astonishment, they weren't crowded around one of the large flat screens. In fact, only one was playing a game by the entrance, so Shuten made a quick detour towards her.
"Loneliness is ill company, Tomoe," Shuten greeted, and instantly, the gaming girl paused her current endeavor. It was some sort of dark Japanese setting featuring a ninja, at least from what Shuten could see. Knowing the peerless samurai on the couch before her? It was likely absurdly difficult in some regard. "What has robbed thy time?"
"Ninja Gaiden II," the woman in a loose white t-shirt and matching sweat pants replied. Her smile was carefree and loose like her waterfall tresses. "Master Ninja difficulty is really fun."
Shuten giggled. "Did its embrace scare away the others?"
Now it was Tomoe's turn to giggle. "It did for Kintoki. The boys are just preoccupied with their early Christmas gifts while I try for a no damage speed record."
Shuten nodded in understanding as she sipped from her sake dish. She watched as Tomoe unpaused the game, then effortlessly began juggling a hyper-aggressive enemy like they were a punching bag. Her controlled character tried to move as gracefully and ferociously as Tomoe did in battle… Tried. The half-Oni warrior was far more of an impressive sight that no modern video game could try to replicate.
Yet, the archer also held a beautifully serene compassion that often fell shameful of her Oni-influenced emotions. That clash drew Shuten in quickly, if not their partial shared interest in video games. Their friendship budded quickly at the arcade since they both liked their specific genres for their relaxation and entertainment. Surprisingly, Tomoe was also a strong challenger in the dancing and festival games.
Then again, that was to be expected from the white-haired girl who quickly earned the title Gaming Queen of Chaldea.
"I shall return to stave off loneliness, should thou not mind," Shuten offered, and Tomoe smiled in acceptance. As she looked away, her controlled character quickly dodged a fatal blow; Shuten had to wonder if her Oni-born instincts really did leak into the games… Somehow… One day, Shuten would give into the overwhelming temptation of making Tomoe indulge in her Oni impulses.
To ease her other curiosity, Shuten waltzed over to the room's center. The large board game tables were usually only used by the children on family nights. If they played a party game like Cards Against Humanity, Anomia, or another fun relative, they'd often occupy a larger booth in the club unless their group was really large. Instead, the many towering servants and staff congregated around one table in particular.
Shuten's eyes graced a few empty boxes and scattered little tools on nearby tables. From first glance, they looked more like the model kits or models Blackbeard had been stocking in the new hybrid import store. The cheers that erupted from the men only confused her more; Only Medea, Blackbeard, Asterios, and the children really got this excited over little toys.
The short assassin wandered about the table before finding a gap by Serenity. Rena hovered from her arms to bounce in front of her. "Hi, Shuten! Isn't it too early to drink?"
"Tis' the hour somewhere on our blue marble," she responded as she pet the lilac robot's chassis. She then took a step past and waved to Serenity, who looked extra comfy in Tyler's college sweater and black yoga pants. "What ritual has the boys well captivated?"
"They call it Warhammer?" Shuten, beside her fellow assassin, finally glanced over the table. "It's the biggest board game I've ever seen them play. You have to buy all these pieces and everything."
There were many little gray figures scattered about; Others were fully blue or another color. Some hills, trees, and ruined buildings of assorted shapes popped with far more color and detail. A little bunker with bullet holes and barbed wire was far and away the most realistic piece on the table. Shuten's view was momentarily blocked as Rena's little arm held a book up to her. The details on the cover looked pretty grim.
Certainly not something the human parents would want to show their kids, but Shuten would be lying if she denied the darker motifs weren't a bit attractive.
"Warhammer forty thousand…" Shuten read, then quickly flipped through the excessively large book. Every picture and depiction she glimpsed quickly forged an alluring atmosphere for this game. The unpainted miniatures didn't show it well, but this sort of fantasy world was no nursery rhyme. Shuten took particular interest when she got to a spread showing chaotic-driven miniatures. She then giggled at one in particular. "Defiler? My, my… What an angry looking crab."
"Some of these things are funny," Rena agreed as Shuten lowered the book.
"Alright, Waver! We got them now!" Iskandar cheered beside her. She had to wonder if the reason the grinning rider was in his famed battle attire was because he was so excited to play a war game; It made her giggle as he nodded to the caster at his side. "Let's see how they escape our pincer maneuver!"
"We'll topple it! Uh… Just as soon as I uhhh figure out if my marines have a super-secret tide turning special." Tyler's mixed retort roused a round of laughter.
She glanced across the table where Tyler had his face buried in another book. Beside him, her eyes met with Kintoki's. Or, she surmised they did because her boy was often wearing those sunglasses wherever he went. He smiled and waved to her, and she wiggled her fingers and licked her lips seductively back. She smirked lightly as his muscles tensed with embarrassment beneath his overly tight white track jacket. His blush quickly drew attention, but Shuten's sultry mirth quickly answered the confusion for everyone.
"Hey, Shuten!" "Is there anything good at lunch?" "Where's Ibaraki?"
Between the regular human Tyler's friendly greeting, waves from some gamer staff, and the calm points poised by servants, she, an Oni, always felt welcome. It was an impossible occurrence in nearly every other situation. No question, it was wrong to treat an Oni as a person, but they came to do it, mostly by virtue of her heroic boyfriend who she loved to toy with. By their view, she was just another comrade and gaming companion for certain endeavors.
…It was very unlikely this was going to be one, but it was at least interesting enough at first glance by virtue of being new.
Tyler shut his book with a grin. "I found one! Time to dish some payback to your guard, Broskandar! The comeback of the century begins today!"
"That's your bluffing smile," Lord El-Melloi II smirked back with arms crossed over his red robe.
Tyler's smile didn't fade. "I didn't say now! I said today!"
Again, many gathered at the table laughed. Shuten smiled in turn. Of the many groups, Chaldea's little gaming clan was one of the closest to her ideal of fun in excess. All it took was a bit of carefully selected alcohol, delectable fruit, and maybe some public-approved incense. She'd had so many memorable moments with them that there only existed one group that surpassed them, but she often met with those companions later at night.
"Hey, Shuten. Still coming to dance night tonight?" Rena questioned, and the Oni quickly smiled.
"And relinquish my little treasure?" Of course she would. She had her own title to keep: Just Dance Champion. And what better way then to be drunk off pleasure and enjoying a festival of modern fun? Maybe she'd even get some 'practice' for a bit after spending more time with Tomoe; Two hours would be the most she'd feasibly fit in anyway.
At about one thirty, she was going to take a walk with Kintoki to his little assignment.
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"Sorry, Shuten… You mind waiting here? Lobo still doesn't like anyone else's company…" That had been twenty minutes ago now. Left alone at the edge of Tropicana, along the shore where fine sand merged with smooth boulders, she sat beneath a comfortable palm with her favorite wine in hand; How insane would she have become without its endless warmth?
Shuten didn't mind waiting for him; The excruciating stillness could be appeased with fine alcohol. The resort's summer air made it acceptable. The beach and sea were a bit boring with their simple sights; Only a few kites could hold her attention longer than a second. Perhaps it was a good thing she borrowed Kintoki's little wargaming rule book.
As she flipped through the pages to browse, finding most delight in the Chaos and Daemon factions, she remained content. Usually, even with her fine wines, she hated waiting restlessly and would find something more suitable for a pleasure-addicted Oni. She'd make a rare exception for Ibaraki, and now Kintoki. In truth, she never thought she'd even get a chance to offer that rarity to the golden-haired hero.
But she did here, and she considered it a strange day a demon's tiny wish was fulfilled.
So, staring at the curious depictions of daemons, she waited and read. She flipped more pages and stared at the swarming alien monsters that would shake fear into the hearts of men should they ever manifest. After flipping quickly back through the human portions, she stopped at a curious bookmark on a select page. She blinked, then giggled loudly. "Ohh~…? Oh of course you would, boy~…"
Feeling the heat of the sun beating down on her kimono, she glanced around, and undid her top. She lowered the confining dress off her shoulders until the lining barely covered her chest; Just enough so no one would make a giant fuss… Well, no one in sight. Moments after browsing a few more pages, she felt his return, smiled, and lowered her kimono just a teensy bit more.
She sighed blissfully, and it tickled the air like a sultry moan. It caused Kintoki to slow down and glance around the shoreline hesitantly from the path. Finally, Shuten aimed her sultry, deadly gaze towards him with the tiniest lick of her lips. Kintoki stood nervously and scratched the back of his head, "Umm… You seem to have enjoyed waiting? I know you hate waiting, so I uh…"
"You wish to taste what thy eyes drank? Hmm~…?" Shuten whispered to him as she stood from the little stump. She strolled towards him with a sway in her hips, and he refused to thaw. Her eyes narrowed coyly as lithe fingers gently grasped the book to her chest, keeping the dress from slipping further off her form. "Don't be coy. I know thy tastes well… Why thou finds… exciting~…"
"Ummm this isn't golden! It's public! I'd definitely have to report something to Okita if we-"
She smiled mischievously. "If we what? I only asked if thou enjoyed what thy eyes graced before."
The sultry Oni stopped before him, and ensured her eyes pierced high and true. He may be her desired companion, and he may be much taller than her, but nothing would stop her from teasing him so heavily. She enjoyed it. She loved watching him squirm with discomfort as he fought to uphold his righteous ideals and personality before the very embodiment of temptation and passionate pursuit. She loved how she could dominate the larger hero, whether with simple words or in her bed chamber.
They were opposites of the same coin, and she did much, every day, to remind him that their relationship was anything but normal.
To be around an Oni was to tempt life and death. Shuten was poisoned wine incarnate. Her presence was intoxicating, and her whispered breath could leave men shaken with desire. Just a touch from her was a herald to a dim demise at her whim. Chaldea had to give the staff potions, then specialized charms after, just to stave her presence's natural seduction. Many had fallen before her with but simple gestures…
…but then there's him. The one who resisted in the most delectable ways. "Mmmm~… I doth wonder why thou wishes to play with them, my boy~…"
"U-Uh why do you have to put it like that!?" His quick stammer was a succulent apple, but she stopped her giggles on her tongue. Holding her tempting gaze, she quickly fingered the length of the open book suggestively, letting the kimono slide just a bit lower. Finally, she unpinned it from her grasp, but gently clenched her kimono's front to her chest.
Shuten would remain decent, and he would see the selected pages she kept open. Kintoki stared, blinked, flushed a bright red, and groaned. "Oh! Shuten! Why did you have to make it sound like I was looking at your golden- Uh, not that I wasn't! I mean was! I mean…!"
It was difficult to respond, or breathe, with her current giggle fit. She was glad Kintoki had liberated the book from her arms so she could calm her mirth. At the same time, she fixed her kimono to sit rightfully atop her shoulders. Righting her sash, she smiled cheekily up at her flushed lover. "I truly love your expressions."
"…I know…" he mumbled out as he huffed lightly with embarrassment. He then glanced at the rulebook pages, where a phalanx of warriors in resplendent gold formed an impenetrable bulwark to an encroaching force. He grinned and chuckled cheesily. "And you saw them? Aren't they cool!? So golden! Truly golden! They're supposed to be impossibly strong and heroic too!"
"Describes an amusing boy I know," Shuten commented, which only made Kintoki grin bigger. He didn't grow up too much from when they met back then; He never did shake that hidden love either. She was glad he didn't, and even more so that the love she thought was impossible had come to be here. Better yet, no one judged it except for Raikou… but she judged everything with her own skewed perspective.
…Not that Shuten would ever truly condemn that woman for following her rampant emotions.
No, Shuten was only glad she could enjoy this palpable, extreme feeling that beat in her chest whenever she wanted. It became another flavor for her palette her Oni desires yearned to seize; She'd never let him go. As much as she teased and toyed with him, he was now her lover and one of the very finest human treasures she'd ever collected. If not the finest. A taste, like the fiery brew, she could enjoy whenever her Oni heart often craved.
And that came with all the curious tales that followed him. Or tail. Shuten finally acknowledged the approaching puppy when it barked. The fluffy white coat of Cavall II flew down the trail to join them. It came up to sniff her happily, then turned his full attention to Kintoki. The grinning berserker stored the rulebook beneath his arm, bent low, and began excitedly ruffling the dog's coat. "Well! Hello hello again Cavy! All finished dancing around Lobo, are you?"
Shuten hummed. "Does Lobo accept his presence?"
"Er… Not at first. But Cavall keeps running over to say hi so Lobo just lets him do what he wants now."
"Does the beast still refuse to speak the word of man?"
Kintoki paused as he gently scratched behind the puppy's ear. "Definitely. He thinks it's unrefined and savage. Called it only a shoddy convenience for making a point clear and drawing lines in the sand."
So it seemed that angry telepathic outburst during his summoning was the first, and last, time he'd likely communicate telepathically. "The wisdom was not lost. Nothing was lost in translation."
"Mhmm… Now Geronimo and I have to be translators and negotiators… but I don't mind. Lobo's pretty calm to us. Enkidu too. He likes we can speak the noblest language, as he calls it."
"Then there lies no intent to have his tongue draw with human words?" Shuten questioned as Cavall came up to her for more pats. She quickly obliged with a gentle hand.
Kintoki shook his head exaggeratedly with a nervous expression. "No! Geronimo might be trying but I could never do that! It makes him so uncomfortable and… That's disrespectful! Definitely not golden! The poor boy has been bullied enough, so I'm going to be a golden friend! Animal talk or none at all!"
Shuten's smile turned a rare shade: Soft and genuine. "Mmm… That's what I love about you."
"…Aw shucks… Me too. I mean, love you! Not I love me, er… Okay, laugh…" Kintoki flushed and scratched his head with embarrassment as Shuten's giggles seized her lungs once more. She didn't even have to do anything to toy around with him that time. Tripping himself was just as amusingly cute too. As her mirth filled the air, her heart grew fulfilled… mostly.
The sultry Oni could always consume a lot more 'love' later to truly fulfill her pleasure cravings, but that would come after another promising evening of fun.
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"Yeaaa… She just sorta gave up. It's like Cavall's staple now, but thanks for bringing him back."
Shuten bid the former master farewell with a sultry smile. "Enjoy gazing upon the horizon."
Skyler's simple wave of acknowledgement was the last glimpse before he passed through Club Cove's doors. The gentle smoke of the distant grills was forming a light haze thanks to the breeze; The bar's interior remained shielded. With the sun's amber touch caressing her back, Shuten walked to the aquarium counter to quench her thirst. Though her playful curiosity urged her to hound the Vigil operator for the first time, just to gauge reactions, her mouth felt a bit dry.
It'd been almost an hour since she drank something besides her usual wine. That just wouldn't do. The days were better spent in a light haze and delightful swirl. As she neared the empty counter, Lex floated over while cleaning a glass. "Our finest wine for the night, Miss Douji?"
"That would be delightful. Please mark it on Kintoki's tab," Shuten lightly slurred as the robot floated off to the premium rack. Shuten took the moment to glance to the empty dance floor.
This place felt awful without a party, and only the ready supply of alcohol saved it from her dismissal. However, at its height, it was a perfectly lively party. The loud music, laughter, dancing, and cheer made Chaldea come alive on weekends. The Celts easily brought out the best, but they weren't holding anything tonight. Pity.
Her eyes landed on a booth by the window that the sun eagerly kissed. There was a gentle flicker of a fluffy tail to the side, and a twitch of two foxy ears just over its peak. By the calm presence, Shuten quickly guessed which one of the tails of Amaterasu lay seated. That only caused her curiosity to bloom as Lex returned with her wine glass. "Complete with a grape, Miss Douji. Thank you for your patronage."
"Mm. Likewise," she responded with a playful smile, took the glass suggestively from the robot's precision claw, then waltzed over to the booth. The robot merely went back to work.
The gentle click of her sandals caused Tamamo to glance around the booth. Shuten giggled first, "Avoiding thyself on this merry month?"
"Yes and no…" the caster answered with a small frown. "I'm more concerned for my friend."
"Oh…?" Shuten asked as she stopped beside the woman in a form-fitting blue dress. Shuten glanced to the sphere in her hands and examined the spied scene. She smiled coyly, "Is it not rude to peer into private affairs?"
Tamamo only narrowed her eyes with exasperation. "Kiyo is one of my best friends. I'll do whatever I must to see she's happy."
"Intervention by the divines… Something thou can't help but do," Shuten mused, and earned a drier glance from Tamamo. She brushed it off, and didn't even motion for her to move away. If Tamamo wanted privacy, she chose a terrible place to do it. She wasn't trying to wave her off though. "Thou doesn't mind a chanced glance from others?"
"If you're asking why I'm doing it here, it's because the Gorgon sisters requested to watch this too. I can't stray too far from dinner prep either."
As she sipped her wine, the assassin's intrigue only churned further. On some level, Tamamo and Shuten related on some levels. To most, they were monsters of Japanese yore, but they differed greatly. Where Shuten chased selfish pleasures at the urgings of her blood, Tamamo juggled a strange balance. She often acted selfishly, but it couldn't be denied she'd often helped others or swayed whatever she could for a preferred outcome: A divine's habit of interfering with others' affairs.
So Shuten wasn't too surprised the Gorgon twins, who'd tutored Kiyohime, wanted to glimpse whatever was happening. A moment later, Shuten felt their presence waltz into the club in tandem. Like looking into a split mirror, the assassin turned to the two Greek divines, clad in the purest white chitons that made them glow like beautiful ghosts. They stared strangely at her, then voiced as one. "Tamamo? Did you invite her too?"
"Nope. Shuten just wandered over for a chat," she answered plainly. Shuten only sipped her wine again as the Gorgon twins took their seats across from Tamamo.
"Well, if you're going to just stand there, mind making yourself useful and wave off any other curious eyes?" the twins asked. "It's too much work for me to do, and Tamamo needs to concentrate scrying."
Though her Oni pride instantly lashed out at being ordered, Shuten only smiled devilishly to them. "Only if mine eyes may peer too."
The twins scowled lightly, and though Tamamo seemed iffy, she didn't make a motion for her to leave. Shuten took the silence as acknowledgement… As if she was just going to leave after attempting to be commanded. It's not like many were passing near this booth anyway, if going into the club at all with dinner rapidly approaching.
Dismissing her presence, Euryale glanced at the orb as Tamamo expanded it gently for them to see. "Has anything happened?"
"Nightingale just finished reading his recovery assessment. She's letting Kiyohime remove the bandages."
Shuten glanced to the scryed vision. The patient room in the Medical Bay bloomed with color, as if they were present. Nightingale held a clipboard to her pink scrubs and watched keenly as Kiyohime gently sat down on the hospital bed. A little tray of blueberry muffins rested on her teal kimono's lap, balanced perfectly as she slowly undid the patient's bandages from his head. Omar, looking almost like a mummy in a polka dot hospital gown, held perfectly still as the threads unraveled.
"Let's see if all my training paid off…" the twins murmured, and Shuten could see the devilish twinkle in their eye. Though she was on only neutral terms with those two goddesses… at best… the assassin liked their history of toying with humans; They related well there, but that was about it. Currently, Shuten was only curious if their likely 'teachings' had any sway whatsoever on Kiyohime's own powerful emotions.
From what Tamamo often inferred, that berserker's sense of love and possession could have matched an Oni's extremes.
The bandages fell, and instantly, Nightingale was practically in Omar's face. The patient flinched slightly, but shock froze him in place as the famed nurse shined her flashlight gently into his eyes. Moments passed as Tamamo gasped lightly in her own examination. Soon enough, the nurse held up three fingers. "Which fingers am I holding up."
"…Index. Pinky. Ring… on your left hand." His answer made Nightingale's smile bloom as she flipped the clipboard around. He read the words printed at the top. "Can you read well, Omar…? …Yea… I-I can see again…!"
"Touko was confident enough to not bother coming to the post-surgery clinical. I can see why," Nightingale offered as she finally pulled away to jot on her clipboard, letting Kiyohime, and the secretly watching women, see the results unhindered. His eyes were remarkably sharp. They almost seemed outlined since they popped so firmly. Combined with his stubble, many could have easily mistaken him as almost a decade older than he really was.
Then again, Kiyohime looked much older too, yet those two were barely two years apart.
Speaking of which, the number of emotions flooding over Kiyohime's face was rather amusing. Omar stared towards her and froze as Nightingale finished jotting her notes with a smile. "Well… All seems well. Treatment was successful. We'll need several checkups to ensure no adverse effects, but otherwise… Congratulations, Omar. You've got your vision back. I'll shake your hand in a moment, but I need to get something I left at the front desk. It's been a busy day."
'Nightingale forgetting a medical item?' That was a lie anyone could see.
With a knowing smile, Nightingale made for the room's door, leaving the two youngsters silently staring at each other. Shuten could already gauge what would likely happen, but she grew more fascinated as Euryale and Stheno leaned in over the table to stare at the beheld sphere with almost sinister smiles. "Yes… This is it, Kiyohime! He's in your hands now! Remind him he's still at your mercy! Remind him he owes you, and keep him at the tip of your finger for eternity!"
Tamamo stared with exasperation. "Really? You still think she's going to do that?"
"She was a good student. Took lots of notes from her mentors," Stheno giggled darkly. "We did everything to ensure she'll never be used again. Oh no! She'll be the one doing the controlling. It is the women who must hold the reigns, don't you agree, Tamamo?"
"The world could slip from your hands if you let your guard down for a moment. The world is cruel and merciless. Fate is fickle. So to hold what you desire, you must be willing to be just as assertively cruel," Euryale commented as well.
Tamamo only narrowed her eyes. "I don't need to be reminded of that… but Kiyohime isn't like that. She doesn't need to be."
They quickly got into a philosophical bickering fest, even if they got along fairly well. Friends, acquaintances, or something else, fusses were bound to happen; No one agreed perfectly with such diverse backgrounds. Shuten agreed with many of the twins' points, and that indulgence and control often went hand in hand. The balance is what differed, and as guessed from Tamamo's insistence, Kiyohime's chosen path was only obvious.
Almost a minute of bickering later, Shuten quickly took a step back as Stheno and Euryale practically clambered onto the table to stuff their faces against the vision sphere. "What!? No! Kiyohime what're you doing!? You're throwing away your sense of control! What did we teach you!? What do you think you're doing!?"
"What else?" Tamamo giggled with satisfied, prideful victory. She smirked with a foxy glint. "She's claiming what's hers. Kiyo's way!"
"What!?" "Did she just say that!?" "She's mouthing those words like that already!?" "No! Kiyohime, what in Hades!?" "Stop! Stop!"
The outrage of the twins was amusing; Too bad Shuten couldn't hear or see what happened over their yelling and flailing. She giggled with Tamamo, but the assassin soon bid the caster farewell as the twins continued to sputter in outrage. Their so-called training had clearly failed, but not everyone went through a Renaissance in Chaldea. Some often stayed the same, no matter how much they seemingly changed… Whether it was for the best or not was another story.
But thanks to the twins' yelling, the club was already feeling livelier far earlier than it was slated to be.
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Dinner had passed, but Shuten still held the month's newfound delicacy in her hands. As the room spun perfectly, Shuten relished the long-awaited warmth that filled her stomach. For an Oni, waiting was a task that needed to be trained with iron discipline to even consider. Just to have waited many months to taste this treat during the right season felt excruciating, at times like ramming nails into her gut.
The wait might have made the eggnog taste that much more delightful.
As she sipped her cup again, she glanced up from her seat back in Club Cove. Dinner would formally end in a few minutes, marking the beginning of two fun events at the same time. The month was starting promising, and the best was supposedly still to come. She smiled lightly.
It turned very coy when she felt a daily, promised approach. With a playful, mischievous stare, she gazed before her and didn't bother to turn around. "My, my… What shall it be this evening? Festive mirth for a change?"
"Mirth and good cheer are reserved for those who deserve it."
"Oh, don't voice such cruel words, Raikou," Shuten slurred lightly as she finally turned to the powerful Minamoto. A few staff and robots had frozen rather than move past a potential fire. Yet, the only flames of anger would likely sprout from the berserker who stood a few paces away with clutched fists and a levelled, accusing glare. Shuten only smiled brighter. "Is it not the season, as the saying goes?"
"It is. But I've been told you're already trying to sully it with scandalous acts."
"One shouldn't settle like a sour drink. It doesn't compliment the beauty of thy dress." It was a mild compliment, more for the wonderful job the Stitch Witches did tailoring a white wrap dress to flatter Raikou's wild figure. "What doth thou accuse me of this night?"
"I heard you tried to seduce Kintoki in the woods! In public of all places!" she jabbed firmly. "I can't understand how my sweet boy can find anything worthwhile in such a devilish insect!"
Within, Shuten's anger flared like a volcano. Had she not been tempered by drink and circumstance, she may have confirmed Raikou's assertions and burned the place down with a sparked battle. Naturally, it's the proper course declared by her instincts. She still didn't.
She had much to lose if she did; How often did she find both pleasurable human company, a rare treasured emotion, and a reunion with the energetic Ibaraki? The stars aligned because she decided the world would be boring without humanity to toy with, so despite the roar of action, she managed to hold back her own overpowering Oni impulses.
Yet, it still needed a pleasurable vent. Like other excessively gratifying activities, teasing and toying with others was one. Mocking Raikou sat towards the top of the list. It was infuriating Shuten was limited in options, but that meant the overhanging consequences were just as enraging for Raikou… if not more. Shuten hummed coyly. "Thy eyes see nothing? I thought you knew the boy well. Is he not your son?"
Shuten could have smirked in victory upon seeing how terribly it ticked the berserker; Peacekeeper or not, she struggled to hold herself back. The assassin only walked the tightrope, as she always loved to do. "The boy is free to choose as he wills. Should his human mother not respect that? Or art thou too ashamed to admit that the leash of control is grasped by thy hands, and not I?"
If there was anything more fun than toying with Raikou to the brink of open conflict, it was weaving her words so delicately with the truth. It may not seem that way to many others, but Shuten could see right through the berserker. Her emotions weren't simply a result of mad enhancement, but of a darker origin she still refused to accept. No, Shuten was very well aware of Raikou's partial Oni blood, and the fact it pushes her twisted, maddened perspective with impulsively overwhelming emotion.
No doubt, she was Oni, but she clearly refused that part of herself. Tomoe was ashamed of her blood, but she didn't go to the lengths Raikou did to hide and vilify its existence completely. Every step from the berserker was an intricate dance; One that intrigued and amused Shuten. That mighty Minamoto tried so hard to maintain a flawless image, no matter how flawed it made her appear. As always, Shuten had to wonder if Raikou would ever understand that, madness or not, Chaldea would accept that 'cursed blood' of hers.
"Pardon, but is there a problem, you two?" Shuten glanced with Raikou towards the doors, where George stood in his saintly attire. He looked between them calmly and impartial, a perfect example of how Raikou should be acting for her station.
Steadying herself, the berserker recomposed her expression, sighed, then shook her head. "…It's fine, George. I was just reminding this insect there is a standard of public order that must be maintained. She's been toeing the line recently."
"I see. I'll leave you to it then," George nodded, smiled to both, then left. "Happy holidays, Shuten. Raikou."
Pleasant. A milder breath of fresh air compared to the berserker's staler confrontations. With a playful smirk, Shuten stared at the berserker, who narrowed her eyes lightly once more. "Remember you walk a thin line, Shuten. I will remove you from Chaldea should you do anything that would threaten humanity."
"And remember, thou art my ally who helps guard it," she toyed back with a grin. Raikou huffed, then stomped away; Her control over her Oni impulses was almost as impressive as her own. Almost. Ibaraki's was nowhere near theirs though, but it was still a miracle all the yellow-haired Oni did was rather tame. With her tongue stuck out, she glared tauntingly as she passed the taller berserker. Raikou smiled menacingly back, but Ibaraki, with hands filled with a giant tray of eggnog, raced over to her fellow Oni.
Shuten smiled as Ibaraki slid the tray across the aquarium bar's top, then grinned. "This should last us a few minutes! They're really tasty! And they go well with these candy canes!"
"Candy is the new rice of thy diet," Shuten mused with a giggle as Ibaraki chugged a glass, then chomped on several candy canes at once. The assassin only took a glass to join her current one.
With a full mouth, Ibaraki questioned. "So what did the stupid cow say this time?"
"The same song and dance," Shuten aired amusingly. She would never let any one of those standoffs sour her mood. Especially not when the day's promised time was nearly here. She hummed and swirled her milky drink. "Their tardiness is surprising this eve-"
"DRINKS AHOY!" Shuten and Ibaraki grinned. The sound of rushing feet heralded the first of their friends, though the pirates could hardly be gleamed with all the stacked barrels. "Told ya' there was a whole winery ripe for the pillaging! I got my special eggnog too! Took forever to design it last year!"
Before Shuten could comment, another cheer echoed from nearby. She glanced to the boardwalk entrance and smiled as Jing Ke strolled in. Her vibrant pink kimono was partially disheveled, and her cheeks were lightly flushed; The norm for the Onis' favorite drinking buddy. The other assassin waved to them, "I've been waiting too long- Oh! Oh yes! Look at all that eggnog!"
"It should be enough to pregame!" Mary called out from somewhere in the stacks of barrels. The room was slowly filling with the wild noise that could match an Oni festival; The expected of her drinking friends. "Is Ushi coming tonight?"
"She'll be here. I can't wait to see how many eggnogs she can handle!" Jing Ke grinned as she casually sauntered over, swung an arm around the seated Ibaraki, and shared a knowing grin with her. "My bets on four."
"Three!" Ibaraki shot back, and Shuten's coy smile matched theirs. No one expected the Onis, especially Ibaraki, to get along with Ushiwakamaru. Understandably so. In truth, they were only decent at best, but Ibaraki had quickly discovered that the Minamoto could be outright humiliated far easier outside of outright conflict that Chaldea Peacekeepers frowned upon.
Drunken Ushiwakamaru was a beautifully entertaining disaster that could satisfy an evening entirely.
As Shuten sipped her eggnog, loud music began to echo from the adjacent arcade. Her foot started beating rhythmically in turn, and her grin turned to the open gaming room doors: Dance night was starting up too. Nothing beat drunken dancing with lively friends, and the ability to saunter between the lively modern games and her drinking friends was a prized deal.
"Robin! You're here! Do you have candy!?" "Fergus! Any other Celts coming!?" "Woah! How many barrels are we going through tonight!?"
"Can we double our tab limits this month?" "Shuten! BB said she was coming. Is that true?" "I wonder what kind of drunk she is."
The conversations were already beginning to stack on each other. Club Cove's own music system kicked in to compete with the arcade's. The pleasant sound of popping corks and sloshing liquid whispered just under them; Heavenly scents of different alcohol roared the loudest. Where the needed extremes filled slowly before, Shuten now fell satisfied.
Their party was only just beginning, but already it was rivalling an Oni festival; Just with far less blood. A supply sortie or singularity would fulfill that need if she wished. So far, she had no doubts December would meet her high expectations and demanding passion for pleasures decently. She even felt like it'd be one of the greatest party months, and a new swirl of ecstasy to revel in. If there was one thing that rivalled the ferocious thrill of a fun fight, it was a celebration or festival that could match.
It was rare for an Oni to pray, but Shuten sincerely wished many Chaldeans would get the greatest gifts this month…
…Whether it was to one extreme or another was left for fate to decide.